Prep Football: Freeport Pretzels set to stuff J-Hawks’ run game

FREEPORT — Here comes Jefferson. And that’s just what Freeport wants to see. And not just because this is the first NIC-10 football game of the season where the Pretzels (0-2) will be favored, but also because it’s old-fashioned football and a way for the Pretzels to measure their toughness.

And that’s just what Freeport wants to see. And not just because this is the first NIC-10 football game of the season where the Pretzels (0-2) will be favored, but also because it’s old-fashioned football and a way for the Pretzels to measure their toughness.

What Jefferson (0-2) does best is run the ball. The J-Hawks had the league’s top rusher last year and ran 49 times last week.

“They will use a lot of different formations, but when you take that out, it’s a lot of come-right-at-you type of plays,” Freeport coach Aaron Wichman said.

“That’s a great thing,” defensive lineman Warren Pearson Jr. said. “We get to prove our toughness and make plays.”

Pearson has been moved from end to tackle for tonight’s game at the Pretzel Bowl in anticipation of Jefferson repeatedly charging the middle of the line.

“They want to have me stop the run. Most of Jefferson’s plays are runs up the middle, so I’ve got a better chance of stopping that if I play there,” Pearson said.

Freeport could be without its top runner, Steve McShane, who missed last week with a right ankle injury. He returned to practice Wednesday, but his status is in doubt.

“He’s feeling a lot better than last week, but we’re going to take every precaution,” Wichman said. “What really hurts is when he tries to push off and plant with it.”

About the J-Hawks: RB Tim Willis has 38 carries for 110 yards and a TD. QB Xavier Malone is 14 of 27 for 155 yards passing with four interceptions. Malone’s leading receiver is Tyler Young for Jefferson, who has eight receptions for 79 yards.

About the Pretzels: QB Quaveon Meeks leads Freeport in rushing with 25 carries for 118 yards and two TDs. Steve McShane adds to the Pretzels total with 21 carries for 111 yards. Meeks is 8 of 23 for 75 yards with two interceptions. Meeks top target is Demetri Offard with four receptions for 49 yards.

Fast facts: After the Pretzels started last season 3-0, they are going into Week 3 this year looking for their first win. Freeport has dominated Jefferson, winning its last 17 games against the J-Hawks. The J-Hawks have not made a postseason appearance since 1993, while the Pretzels are looking return to the postseason after a four-year hiatus. Speaking of returns, McShane will look to get back on the field after missing last week with an ankle injury.

About the Indians: Travis Kortemeier and Nathaniel Smith lead Dakota in rushing. QB Austin Cashman

About the Wildcatz: Donny Groezinger leads E-PC with 21 carries for 229 yards and 3 TDs. Eric Schaney adds to the rushing attack with 23 carries for 135 yards and a score. Sophomore QB Deven Herren is 16 of 27 for 172 passing yards for 3 TDs and 2 interceptions. Herren’s favorite target is Groezinger, who has 5 receptions for 58 yards and a TD. Fast facts: Dakota is 5-2 against E-PC since 2007, but the teams are 2-2 since 2009. E-PC hasn’t lost a conference game since falling to Forreston on the road in Week 9 of the 2011 season. Dakota won a state title that year and beat E-PC in the regular season 36-6.

Lena-Winslow at Durand

When: 7:30 p.m.

Records: Le-Win 1-1, Durand 0-2

Last year: Teams did not meet.

Last week: Lena-Winslow 27, Dakota 0; Galena 35, Durand 7

About the Panthers: RB Jace Oleson leads Le-Win’s balanced rushing attack with 24 carries for 130 yards and a TD. Ben Schubert adds 23 carries for 104 yards, while Tyler Oakley has 13 carries for 60 yards. QB Ben Moest is 12 of 21 for 213 yards passing for two TDs. Moest’s top target is Luke Schubert, who has 5 receptions for 147 yards and two TDs.

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About the Bulldogs: Durand ran for 96 yards on 28 carries last week in a losing effort against Galena last week. Logan Adams was 4 of 10 for 62 yards and a TD against the Pirates.

Fast facts: The Panthers last played the Bulldogs in 2007, when Le-Win dominated 46-0. Le-Win has made the postseason every year since 1999, while Durand has only appeared in the playoffs five times in that same duration.

W. Carroll at Forreston

When: 7 p.m.

On the air: 100.3 FM

Records: West Carroll 0-2, Forreston 2-0

Last year: Forreston 47, West Carroll 0

Last week: East Dubuque 22, West Carroll 14; Forreston 48, South Beloit 0

About the Thunder: RB Brandon Sturtevant leads West Carroll with 23 carries for 139 yards and a TD. QB Shaun Magill adds to the run game with 25 carries for 70 yards. Magill is 7 of 22 for 88 yards and two TDs. His favorite target is Trevor Jones, who has 5 receptions for 76 yards and two TDs.

About the Cardinals: Ross Williams leads Forreston’s strong rushing attack with 16 carries for 210 yards and three TDs. Spencer Cruthis adds 31 carries for 172 and three scores, and QB Robert DeVries has 15 carries for 108 yards. DeVries is also 10 of 15 for 132 yards with two TDs. DeVries’ favorite target is Kaleb Reining, who has three receptions for 49 yards.

Fast facts: West Carroll hasn’t beaten Forreston since 2009, when the Thunder edged the Cardinals 16-13. It wound up being the last time Forreston missed the playoffs. West Carroll, despite the upset, still missed the postseason and finished 3-6.

About the Broncos: RB Dan Zimmerman leads the area with 58 carries for 491 yards for 5 TDs. Hunter Asche adds 20 carries for 162 yards to Orangeville’s run game. Zimmerman also leads the team in receiving with 4 receptions for 98 yards and 2 TDs. QB Bryce Brown is 6 of 13 for 138 yards with 2 TDs and an interception. Donald Stewart has 2 receptions for 42 yards.

About the Bulldogs: QB Aiden Chang is 40 of 83 for 661 yards with 6 TDs and 5 interceptions. Receiver Dominic DeMichele is Chang’s favorite target with 16 receptions for 316 yards and 3 TDs. Anthony Townsend adds 12 receptions for 218 yards and a score, while Josh Buisker has 10 catches for 108 yards and 2 TDs. RB Dean Sopcic has 37 carries for 173 yards and has 2 TDs.

Fast facts: Chang threw for 435 yards and four TDs last week against Stockton. Orangeville hasn’t beat Aquin since 2008, when the Broncos reached the second round of the playoffs. Aquin still made the playoffs that year as an at-large qualifier and lost to Galena in the first round.

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E. Dubuque at Warren

When: 7:30 p.m.

Records: East Dubuque 2-0, Warren 0-2

Last year: East Dubuque 26, Warren 21

Last week: East Dubuque 22, West Carroll 14; River Ridge 27, Warren 13

About East Dubuque: RB Alec Monahan leads the Warriors strong rushing attack with 33 carries for 287 yards and 3 TDs. Aaron Frost adds 9 carries for 112 yards and 2 TDs, while Jonah Puls has 19 carries for 85 yards and a score. QB Jared Crenshaw is 4 of 11 for 53 passing yards with a TD and an interception. Frost is the leading receiver with 2 receptions for 30 yards.

About Warren: RB Brady Raab leads the Warriors with 30 carries for 173 yards and a TD. QB Gavin Leverton is 16 of 43 for 209 yards with a TD and 3 interceptions. Leverton’s top receiving option is Devin Pax with 10 receptions for 173 yards.

Fast facts: The battle of the Warriors has been all East Dubuque the last 2 seasons. East Dubuque is 2-0 against Warren and has outscored it 67-29 since 2011. East Dubuque has outscored the Warren-River Ridge co-op 80-49. The co-op’s last victory over East Dubuque was in 2006, when W-RR won 27-21.

River Ridge vs. A-FC

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Franklin Grove

Records: River Ridge 1-1, A-FC 0-2

Last year: A-FC 34, River Ridge 29

Last week: River Ridge 27, Warren 13; Polo 62, A-FC 6

About the Wildcats: RB Austin Durr leads River Ridge with 25 carries for 108 yards. QB Josh Crist is 11 of 23 for 220 yards with 3 TDs. Crist’s leading receiver is Brenden Dauphin, who has 8 receptions for 222 yards and 3 TDs.

About the Raiders: RB Luke Hagemann leads A-FC with 14 carries for 84 yards. Jake Chapman adds 28 carries for 82 yards and TD. QB Bret Gittleson is 4 of 17 for 61 yards and an interception. Gittleson’s favorite target is Troy Mairs, who has 4 receptions for 55 yards.

Fast facts: River Ridge has yet to beat A-FC as an individual team. A-FC is tied for second for the least amount of points scored for the season in the NUIC with West Carroll. Each has scored 20 points. South Beloit has had a goose egg in each of its two games. River Ridge averages 20.5 points per game.

Stockton at Polo

When: 7:30 p.m.

Records: Stockton 2-0, Polo 1-1

Last year: Teams did not meet

Last week: Stockton 38, Stockton 32 (OT); Polo 62, A-FC 6

About the Blackhawks: RB Colton Broshous leads Stockton with 47 carries for 336 yards and 4 TDs. William Heidenreich adds to the rushing attack with 20 carries for 86 yards and 4 TDs. QB Jordan Fox is 12 of 28 passing for 185 yards with 3 TDs and 2 interceptions. Fox’s top target is Reese Vanderheyden who has 6 receptions for 144 yards and 2 TDs.

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About the Marcos: QB Brody Grobe leads Polo with 19 carries for 181 yards and a TD. His brother, RB Brooks Grobe, has 17 carries for 82 yards and a score. FB Jeff Kimpel has 17 carries for 79 yards. Brody Grobe is 2 of 10 passing for 52 yards and a TD. Kevin Cheeseman has 1 reception for 37 yards and a TD.

Fast facts: The Upstate rivalry will be renewed. Polo last played Stockton in 2010, when the Marcos edged the Blackhawks 27-26. Neither team made the postseason that year and Polo moved up to the Northwest division for the next two seasons. Stockton reached the second round of the playoffs in 2011 and reached the state title game last season, while Polo combined for a 4-14 record while in the Northwest. Stockton coach Chris Thornton has yet to beat Polo as a head coach. Stockton last beat Polo in 2005, with Brad Fox as the head coach. Both teams did not meet in 2006.

Nonconference

Milledgeville at Galena

When: 7:30 p.m.

On the air: 100.3 FM (delay)

Records: Milledgeville 1-1, Galena 1-1

Last year: Teams did not meet

Last week: Orangeville 60, Milledgeville 33; Galena 35, Durand 7

About the Missiles: RB Daniel Walker has 11 carries for 113 yards and a TD. QB Jordan Harris also has 5 carries for 31 yards and a score. Harris is 10 of 17 for 158 yards with 2 TDs. Harris’ top target is Blake Kappes, who has 2 receptions for 69 yards.

About the Pirates: QB Austin Long leads Galena in rushing yards with 34 carries for 196 yards and 4 TDs. Galena’s top RB is Chris White, who has 23 carries for 103 yards and a score. Long is 15 of 31 passing for 154 yards with a TD. Long’s favorite target is Alex Peebles, who has 9 catches for 83 yards.

Fast facts: The former Upstate rivals meet for the first time since 2010. Galena beat Milledgeville in 2009 and 2010, winning by an average of 37 points. The Missiles swept the Pirates in 2008, beating Galena in the regular season and in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Milledgeville advanced to the state semifinals in one of the program’s best-ever seasons. The Pirates swept the Missiles in 2007, beating Milledgeville in the regular season and in the second round of the playoffs. Galena finished a perfect 14-0 and won the Class 1A state title, its third in program history. Galena and Dakota (in Class 2A) both were undefeated that season.